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WRAC Archive 2017-2020

The following is an archive of past WRAC meeeings.

Note: Content on this page is not being maintained and may contain broken links or out of date information. If you see something you need please check with us to see if we have any updated material before using it. 

Chris Anderson
Water Resources Program webmaster
chris.anderson@ecy.wa.gov
(360) 890-5471 (Cell) 

2020 Meetings

December 14

• Agenda - WebExOnly
• • WebEx Log-in tips
• Report - Water Trust, Banking, and Transfers in Washington State: Findings and Recommendations Informed by Ecology’s Advisory Group on Water Trust, Banking, and Transfers
• Report - Report to the Legislature: Streamflow Restoration Law Update 
• Policy discussion about updating POL-1050, Extension of time on permits.

November 9

• Agenda - WebEx Only
  • WebEx Log-in tips

October 12

• Agenda - WebEx Only
• Water Right Adjudications
  • Presentation by Robin McPherson
  • Read the adjudication assessment report 
  • Next steps in managing water rights - Blog
• Streamflow restoration competitive grants
  
  • 2020 Grant Round Application Summary
• WaterSMART - Drought Response Program - Drought Contingency Planning Grants for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021

September 14

• Agenda - WebEx Only
  • WebEx Log-in tips

• Our 2021-23 budget requests are now available online:

  • Budget home page
  • 2021-23 Operating Budget Request (Sept. 2020)
  • 2021-23 Capital Budget Request (Sept. 2020)
• Ecology Air Monitoring Website (Washington Air Quality Advisory)
• Implementing RCW 90.94 (Streamflow Restoration - Presentation by Bennett Weinstein
• Water Supply Update - Jeff Marti

August 10 The meeting has been canceled. Next scheduled meeting is Monday, September 14.

• What a difference a year makes: Water supply in Washington near normal
• Spokane River Instream Flow Rule - Aug. 6. 2020 Supreme Court Decision
• Read the Focus on: How the Foster decision affects our work
  • See more information on our Foster decision page
  • Follow the Joint Legislative Task Force on Water Resource Mitigation

July 13

• Agenda - WebEx Only
  • WebEx Log-in tips
• Kachess  Community Association et. al. v United States Department of Interior, et. al. - Order Granting Defendants' Motions to Dismiss 
• The Skagit River Mitigation Plan - Presentation by John Rose and Buck Smith
• Water Supply Update - Jeff Marti
• Streamflow Restoration Planning - WRIA 59 - We adopted the watershed plan addendum on June 25, 2020

June 8

• Agenda - WebEx Only
  • WebEx Log-in tips
• 2020 Legislative priorities
  • Advisory Group on Water Trust, Banking, and Transfers
• Washington State Water Supply Conditions - Jeff Marti
• Implementing the Dungeness Instream Flow Regulation - Mike Gallagher
  • The story of water - League of Women Voters of Clallam County
  • Dungeness Off-channel Reservoir - Video
  • Dungeness Off-channel Reservoir - Handout
• Chapter 173-501 WAC, Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1 CR-103, adopted rule amendment
• Statewide conditions - latest information about water supply in the state
• Streamflow restoration competitive grants

May 11

• Agenda - WebEx Only
  • WebEx Log-in tips
• Spokane River - Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Rule
  • TVW - link to watch
• Loyal Pig LLC et al v Dept. of Ecology et al May 5, 2020 published opinion
• Ecology's first 50 years - a celebration
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates - Office closures, public meetings, public records and disclosure
• Advisory Group on Water Trust, Banking, and Transfers
• Statewide conditions - latest information about water supply in the state

April 13

• Agenda - includes WebEx meeting information
  • WebEx - Instructions for use
• Drought response - our new page with links to the new law and state drought contingency plan
  • New law improves capabilities for drought response and preparedness - Blog
• Advisory Group on Water Trust, Banking, and Transfers
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates - Office closures, public meetings, public records and disclosure
• Read about the Skagit River Baasin Mitigation Program
• Streamflow restoration competitive grants -  Extension of application deadline, we will be accepting applications until 5 p.m. on Apr. 30, 2020.

March 9 

• Agenda - revised 3/6 at 9am

February 10 

• Agenda
• Streamflow restoration program status - Feb. 2020 update
• Streamflow restoration competitive grants - application period for streamflow restoration grants is now open
• 2020 Legislative priorties - Agency tracking
• Water Right Permits - Pre-application consultation, new forms for water rights and water right changes

January 13

• Agenda
• Streamflow restoration competitive grants - application period for streamflow restoration grants is now open
• New Year, New Water Right Applications - Blog Jan. 15, 2020
• Bill request concerning trust water rights - Z-0837.1/20
• Water banking and trust water rights - Focus January 2020
• We're wading into water issues at the 2020 Legislature - Blog
• 2020 Legislative priorties - Agency tracking
• Water Right Permits - Pre-application consultation, new forms for water rights and water right changes
• Chapter 173-501 WAC, Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1 CR-102 Draft Rule comment and public hearings

2019 Meetings

December 9

• Agenda
• Outcome of the 2019 Agency Policy Review - Water Resources
  • Water rights and dam safety policies and procedures
• Revised water right applications - Presentation
• Chapter 173-501 WAC, Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1 CR-102 Draft Rule comment and public hearings
• Streamflow restoration competitive grants
• Water Banking
  • Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - Evans School of Public Policy and Governance - University of Washington
  • Water Bank Questions - Discussion questions
  • Strategic Planning: Water Banking in WA - presentation
  • Water banking in Washington
• Walla Walla Water 2050 water management plan - Ecology and the Walla Walla Water Management Partnership are embarking on a 30-year strategic planning process to refocus efforts to meet the region’s water needs.

November 12 (Tuesday) - Meeting canceled

October 14

• Agenda - see agenda for WebEx login and call-in information
• Chamokane Creek - October 17, 2019 open house to answer questions from the community
• Water Bank Questions - Discussion questions
• Strategic Planning: Water Banking in WA - presentation
• • Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - June 2019
  • Water banking in Washington

September 9

• Agenda
• Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - June 2019
• Water banking in Washington
• Streamflow Restoration Program Status - July 2019
• POL-2030 2003 Municipal Water Law Interpretive and Plolicy Statement
• POL-2050 Water Resources Program Policy Regarding Reservations of Water for Future Uses from the John Day-McNary Pools Reach of the Columbia River 08/01/2019
• Statewide conditions/Drought in Washington 2019

August 12 meeting canceled. Next meeting is September 9.

July 8 - Call-in Only

• Agenda

• In February 2019, Water Resources proposed changes to Policies 1060 and 1200. We heard from many of you who had concerns with our draft policy changes. We carefully considered the concerns raised and in response, we are proposing a newly revised version of Policy 1060. We are no longer proposing changes to Policy 1200
  • Our proposed revision of POL 1060 is available here.  We will discuss the draft at the July 8 WRAC meeting.
  •  We would like your feedback on the proposed policy. Please send comments to Carrie Sessions by July 26 at 5 PM: (carrie.sessions@ecy.wa.gov, 360-407-6094).
• Protecting orcas from extintion - Ecology web page
  • Orca Overview - Task Force Presentation
  • Orca Summary - Task Force Recomendations
  • Orca Overview - Budgets

June 10

• Agenda
  • Join by phone: 1-855-929-3239  Access Code 802 767 155 #
  • Join the meeting from your computer to view presentations.
• DRAFT Water Resources Program Policy Regarding Reservations of Water for Future Uses from the John Day-McNary Pools Reach of the Columbia River - link removed 08/02/2019
  • John Day McNary Pool Reservations - Presentation by Ben Carr, OCR
  • Ecology's response to CSRIA petition to amend Chapter 173-531A WAC - Dec.13, 2018
  • John Day/McNary Pool reservations - Permit process
  • If you have any questions please contact Ben Carr at 509-457-7112 or Melissa Downes, Policy Lead, 509-454-4259.
• Drought in Washington 2019
  • Water resources drought response grants
  • Emergency rule - WAC 173-167
• Chamokane Creek - settlement agreement
• Yakima River Basin Adjudication - finalized

May 13

• Agenda
• Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - Evans School of Public Policy and Governance - University of Washington
• Grant Funding Rule – we expect to adopt the rule in early June, it would become effective in early July
• WRIA 1 (Nooksack) preliminary rulemaking documents – Comments due May 10
• Draft Final NEB Guidance – Comments due June 7
• Draft Streamflow Restoration Policy – Comments due June 7

April 8

• Agenda
• Drought in Washington 2019 - Drought declaration
  • Water supply update - Apr. 8, 2019
• Chapter 173-501 WAC -  Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA)
  • We’ve developed preliminary draft language for the rule amendment and a rule supporting document for Chapter 173-501 WAC:
    • Preliminary Draft Rule Language – Amendment to Chapter 173-501 WAC
    • Preliminary Draft Rule Supporting Document – Amendment to Chapter 173-501 WAC

March 11 

• Agenda
• Cultivating interstate conversation and collaboration: April 2018 Ogalla Summit - presentation by Amy Kremen, Colorado State University
• Statewide conditions - latest information about water supply in the state
• Policy update - We are proposing draft changes to two policies. The goal of the revisions is to clarify how the program treats permits that have been put to full beneficial use, but not yet certified, and to update the policies to reflect current law. The current version of each policy is available in the links below along with the revised versions for comparison. Please note:
  • We have almost completely rewritten POL 1060; therefore, specific changes are not highlighted.
  • We added specific language to POL 1200, which is indicated in blue text. We did not change the remainder of the policy.
    • POL 1060 Recision and Relinquishment
      • Revised version - draft for review and comment
    • POL 1200 Policy for the Evaluation of Changes or Transfers to Water Rights
      • Revised version - draft for review and comment

  • We would like your feedback on the proposed changes. Please send comments to Carrie Sessions by Apr. 26 at 5 PM: (carrie.sessions@ecy.wa.gov, 360 407 6094).

• Streamflow Restoration Planning - page to track the committees, plans and rule process
  • Streamflow Restoration - program update presentation
• Water Resource Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
• Drought Preparedness bill:
  • HB 1622
  • SB 5675

February 11- Meeting Canceled "Snowmageddon"

January 14

• Agenda
• Streamflow Restoration Planning - new page to track the committees, plans and rule process
• Water Resource Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
• Washington SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal
• Presentations:
  • Potential Acquavella closeout timelines
  • Streamflow Restoration - Implemetation Update

2018

December 10

• Agenda
• Presentations:
  • Water Supply Update - Jeff Marti
  • Sreamflow Restoration - Implemetation update - Bennett Weinstein
• Streamflow Restoration under Chapter 90.94 RCW Progress on Implementation - Focus sheet
• Streamflow Restoration Planning - new page to track the committees
• Agency-request legislation

November 13

• Agenda
• State Water Plans Monographs from 17 States - Created by: AWRA Policy Technical Committee 

October 8

• Agenda
• Streamflow Restoration - Update
• Office of Columbia River - DRAFT Focus on: Water Supp;y Development Funding 
• Dam Safety - A tale of two dams  Joe Witzcak Ecology WRP-DSO
• We have launched a grant program for Streamflow Restoration implementation projects. This first round of grants will focus on projects that improve streamflows and instream resources. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Oct. 31, 2018
• Ecology has developed preliminary draft rule language for Chapter 173-566 WAC – Streamflow Restoration Funding.  To gather input from interested parties and the public, we have posted the preliminary draft rule language on our website. The preliminary draft rule language will be discussed at the upcoming public workshops we are holding around the state in October. The comment period for the preliminary draft rule language will close on Oct. 28, 2018.
• You can comment three ways:
  • Online via eComments
  • Email comments to: inman@ecy.wa.gov, or
  • Mail comments to:
    • Rebecca Inman
    • Dept. of Ecology
    • PO Box 47600
    • Olympia WA  98504-7600
  • If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Inman at (360) 407-6450 or rebecca.inman@ecy.wa.gov.
• The Water Resources Program is pursuing approval for request legislation on drought and on well construction and licensing. These proposals are still draft versions and are pending approval from the Governor’s Office.
• Drought:
  • Drought Preparedness and Response – DRAFT focus sheet
  • Z-draft
  • Fiscal note

• Well construction and licensing:
  • Well Construction and Licensing – DRAFT focus sheet
  • Z-draft
  • Fiscal note

September 10 - meeting canceled. Next meeting is scheduled for October 8.

• Statewide conditions - updated weekly

August 13 - Meeting canceled

• Rulemaking - Chapter 173-566 WAC Streamflow Restoration Funding
• Water Supply Availability Committee (WSAC) - Aug. 10 meeting
• Statewide conditions - updated weekly
• Streamflow Restoration - updated with interim guidance documents:
  • Streamflow Restoration Grants Fiscal Year 2019 Interim Funding Guidance
  • Interim Guidance for Determining Net Ecological Benefit

July 9

• Agenda  - New phone number 1-855-929-3239  Access Code 800 292 379 #
• Statewide conditions - updated June 14
• Water supply presentation - Jeff Marti, WRP-HQ
• Water Resources Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
• Water supply monitoring
  • Ecology River and stream flow monitoring
  • U.S. Geological Survey: Look at daily streamflow data for Washington state
  • Northwest River Forecast Center: View river volume forecasts for the coming year
• Washington Groundwater Level Status and Trends - Spring 2016
• Streamflow Restoration - updated with interim guidance documents:
  • Streamflow Restoration Grants Fiscal Year 2019 Interim Funding Guidance
  • Interim Guidance for Determining Net Ecological Benefit

 June 11 - meeting canceled

• Zosel dam - June 1 update
• Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) - for the Icicle Creek Water Resource Management Strategy

• Bill Tracking

  • 2018 Legislative session bill tracking spreadsheet - Final version after Sine Die

May 14 

• Agenda - New phone number 1-855-929-3239  Access Code 805 003 431 #
• Water Resources Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
• Focus on: New streamflow restoration law
• 2017 Implementation Status Report for the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan

April 9

• Agenda
• Rattlesnake Ridge LandslideUnion Gap Irrigation District Response - Trevor Hutton WRP-CRO
• Washington State Drought Contingency Plan Update - Jeff Marti WRP-HQ
• Yakima Basin Water Supply - April Forecast
• Streamflow Restoration - includes link to new interactive map and WRIA documents
  • Read our policy interpretation
  • Recommendations for water use estimates

March 12

• Agenda

• Full water supply expected according to first Bureau of Reclamation forecast

• Streamflow Restoration - includes link to new interactive map and WRIA documents
  • Read our policy interpretation
  • Recommendations for water use estimates

February 12

• Agenda
• Statewide conditions - January 2018 update
• Streamflow Restoration
  • Watershed plan archive
  • Map of where the new law applies
  • HB 6091 Ensuring that water is available to support development - Leglsative web page link
  • Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6091 - direct link to the bill

January 8

• Agenda
• Landowners fined for illegally pumping 500 million gallons from Odessa aquifer
• Chapter 173-166 WAC Emergency Drought Relief - track the progress of this rule amendment
• Water supply update - Jeff Marti WRP-HQ
• HB 6091 Ensuring that water is available to support development - Leglsative web page link

2017 meetings

December 18

• Agenda
• See our new web pages - give us your feedback

November 20

• Agenda
  
  • WRP Strategic Plan for 2016-2020 - January 2016
  • WRP Fiscal Year 2018 Program Plan
• Ecology v. Acquavella et al adjudication:
• Water Supply Update - Jeff Marti WRP-HQ

October 16 - This is a Call-in meeting  Phone 360-407-3780 PIN 602714 #

• Agenda
• Water today – water for the next hundred years - ECOconnect blog, Octt. 3

September 18  - meeting canceled

August 28

• Agenda
• Chapter 173-166 WAC Emergency Drought Relief - track the progress of this rule amendment
• Yakima River Surface Water Adjudication (Acquavella) - Presentation
• We are proposing changes to POL-1210 and PRO-1210, the policy and procedure governing Annual Consumptive Quantity.
  • Overview of proposed changes
  • Proposed policy - POL-1210
  • Proposed procedure - PRO-1210
    • Existing policy - POL-1210
    • Existing procedure  PRO-1210